SP Alwar stop defaming Umar and others while protecting the so called gau-rakshaks, Analysis of the Note called the SP note circulating in the media :PUCL Rajsthan

The enclosed eight point note, called the SP Alwar note circulating in the media, on the killing of Umar of Ghatmika, Kaman Pahadi, Bharatpur district due to cow vigilantism, tries to showcase it is an ordinary (everyday) fight between two gangs of criminals, one of which are habitual cow smugglers and the other anti-social elements, in which one person was killed. It is also important to understand that they are trying to show it as gangs of two communities the Meo Vs Gurjar, without taking the names of either community.

This is a clear indication of not only protecting the killer, so called cow-gaurakshaks, but also their links to the Sangh parivar( Bajrang dal etc) if at all, with those who committed the murder and also trying to take away the heat which has been built against the GOR nationally and internationally for increasing crimes in the State due to cow vigilantism. Most importantly the State Government does not want to annoy the hindutva lobby, the RSS with the MP by-elections being round the corner,

What is very disturbing is that the refrain through the note, from the first point itself, is that Umar and his colleagues are cow smugglers for which they were wanted in various cases of Gau taskari, the term “alleged” is also not used and instead stated that they were smuggling cows again this time in a pickup truck with a fake number and that both sides fired at each other, thus trying to show that these were gangsters involved in a fight. The FIR 273/17 lodged at the Govindgarh Police Station is against Tahir, Javed and Umar u/s 3,,5,6, 8 and 9 of the Rajasthan Bovine Act and the FIR 275/17 u/s 147, 201, 302, 307 against anti-social elements, two of whom have been arrested.

It is also observed throughout the note that they have tried to show a history of cow smuggling by Tahir and Umar, however, have not mentioned the history of criminality of Bhagwan Singh and others in the murder case, two of whom have been arrested. So while downplaying the crime of murder, have also tried to defame the now dead Umar and his seriously injured associate Tahir and the driver Javed.

The note is completely silent on the most critical part of the crime, which is mutilation of the body, transporting the body to the railway track to another police station area , tyres being stolen from the pickup truck, the police through all this and its role. It ofcourse also does not tell us as to where the cows are now, as they must have ended up in some Gau Shala, building up profits for somebody else, with the sale of milk.

The note states that the police investigation in the case shows that the Cow smugglers were carrying 6 cows and bullocks for smuggling in a pickup which had the accused Tahir, the deceased Umar and Javed. That the pickup was stopped by the arrested accused Bhagwan Singh alias Kala and Ramveer along with their four colleagues by laying out by a nail ridden board. Both sides fired at the each other and beat up each other, although the killing of Umar happened due to the bullet fired by Bhagwan Singh and his colleagues.

They go on to show that the pick up which was transporting that night had a fraudulent number called RJ02SK 4565 as this series is of two wheelers and not four wheelers.

Tahir, the alleged accused for cow smuggling had 5 cases against him, 3 of cow smuggling, and two relating to simple brickbats. Of the 5 cases, he was wanted for three and was absconding in one.

For Umar they write that verified records show that he too had a case of cow smuggling in 2012, for which he was wanted.

So it concludes that both the sides were criminals and this incident should be looked upon as a fight between two criminal groups in which one death happened due to the firing that ensued. In which the deceased Umar, Tahir and

Javed have committed the crime of cow smuggling, moving in a vehicle with a fake number plate and Bhagwan and others committed a crime of loot and murder.

By not looking at it squarely as yet another case of cow vigilantism which is targeting Muslim, by showing them as cow smugglers and criminals the State has decided to not rise to occasion and provide protection to Muslim lives which is in jeopardy. Thus the plan of providing safety to the Muslim dairy farmer is a non-issue with the GOR and the cow vigilantes have absolute impunity to go on with their killings.

The PUCL reiterates its demands that for justice to Omar and his associates,

· The case be transferred to the SIT or CBI for fair and just investigation.and all the accused by arrested, including the police.

· The role of the police be examined as without their complicity the body could not have been transported, the tyres of the pickup carrying the cows and bullocks could not have been removed.

· The criminalising and defamation of Umar and others should stop. Stop calling them Gau Taskars, in no case have they been convicted.

· The incharge on the 10th morning of Govindgarh police station be suspended and the SP too be suspended for providing impunity to Gau-rakshaks that they struck a second time, first at the time of Pehlu Khan and a second time on the 10thof November.

· The deceased’s family be given Rs. 25 lacs including a Government job for one member

· Tahir and Javed be provided protection and compensation.

· The Raje Government come out with a safety plan for the safety of Meos in Alwar, Bharatpur and Muslim dairy farmers. The protection of the life and liberty of the Meos and all the other Muslims of the state is a Constitutional obligation.